Eleven UAE Financial Firms Ready to Issue Jaywan National Payment Cards
Eleven UAE banks and fintechs will issue Jaywan national payment cards, enhancing secure contactless payments, digital wallet support and global acceptance.
Eleven Institutions Cleared to Issue Jaywan Cards
Eleven financial institutions in the United Arab Emirates have completed technical readiness to issue Jaywan national payment cards, officials announced.
The move marks the first wave of issuers for the national card scheme managed by Union Payments Company, owned by the Central Bank of the UAE.
The initial cohort includes Abu Dhabi First, Abu Dhabi Commercial, Sharjah Islamic, Emirates NBD, Broda Bank, Dubai Commercial, Emirates Islamic, Al Maryah Local, Citi Bank, Al Ansari Exchange and Buteem for Money.
Additional banks, exchange houses and fintechs are expected to join the Jaywan network in planned stages as certification and integrations conclude.
Card Types, Security and Contactless Payments
Jaywan will offer debit, prepaid and credit card categories to meet retail and business needs, with credit cards slated to arrive soon.
Cardholders will benefit from contactless technology designed for quick tap-and-go payments and enhanced anti-fraud measures built into the scheme.
Scheme operators highlighted that Jaywan cards adhere to national security standards and international best practices to protect cardholder data.
The design aims to combine convenience with layered authentication and tokenisation to reduce fraud risk across in-store and online channels.
Digital Wallet Integration and ATM Access
Jaywan cards will be compatible with major mobile wallets, enabling consumers to add cards to Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay in the near future.
This integration is intended to broaden payment options for shoppers and to support seamless transactions across phones, wearables and other devices.
Cardholders will also be able to withdraw cash from ATMs, pay at point-of-sale terminals and shop online through e-commerce platforms.
Union Payments Company said the digital wallet rollout and wallet tokenisation will be enabled progressively as issuers finalise mobile integrations.
Merchant Offers and Customer Benefits
Jaywan comes with a package of consumer benefits that issuers and the scheme say will appeal to both everyday spenders and frequent travellers.
Promotional perks include airport lounge access, travel insurance, purchase protection and membership benefits through Jaywan Entertainer.
Cardholders will additionally see discounts and partnerships with regional service providers, including Careem+ offers, Reel Cinemas promotions and select airline advantages.
The scheme has already secured offers across more than 150 stores and service providers in the UAE spanning travel, hotels, retail, entertainment, healthcare and dining sectors.
International Acceptance and Travel Perks
While Jaywan is a national payment scheme, organisers confirmed plans for phased international acceptance in over 100 countries.
The phased approach is intended to align network connectivity, acquirer partnerships and cross-border settlement arrangements before broadening reach.
Travel-focused benefits and insurance coverages are positioned to make Jaywan attractive for residents who travel regularly across the Gulf and beyond.
Officials emphasised that international acceptance and co-badging arrangements will be expanded gradually to maintain transaction security and reliability.
Rollout Timeline and Industry Adoption
Issuers that have completed readiness will begin issuing Jaywan-branded cards to customers in the coming weeks, according to the announcement.
Other banks, exchange houses and fintech firms will be onboarded in stages, with timelines driven by each institution’s certification and system integration schedules.
Union Payments Company and participating issuers will coordinate merchant acceptance updates, consumer education and promotional campaigns as the rollout progresses.
Regulators and industry stakeholders are monitoring adoption rates and interchange arrangements to ensure a smooth transition for consumers and merchants.
The Jaywan card initiative is part of a broader national effort to modernise payments infrastructure, enhance transaction security and expand digital payment options for individuals and businesses.
As the program moves from pilot to wider deployment, consumers can expect incremental feature releases and expanding merchant benefits tied to the national scheme.